Examination Day Schedule

General Public Administration Question: 2 hours
Option #1 Question: 2 hours
Option #2 Question: 2 hours

The examination will offer at least two optional questions for each sub-field. You will write on just one of them. Questions will be generally based upon the study questions and/or questions proposed by students, but may be composites or variations on those questions.

The computer lab will be reserved for the MPA Comprehensive Exam, but if a student wishes to write in longhand, a separate room will also be made available for that.

Three instructors will read your exam. Usually you can expect to be notified regarding the result in about two weeks. The grading system is CREDIT/NO CREDIT.

At the discretion of the examiners, a reexamination may be allowed on a single failed field. If so, the reexamination will be scheduled to take place after an appropriate period of further preparation. If a student fails to pass two or three fields, he or she will be expected to repeat the examination following semester.

The goal of structured preparation is to assure success on the examination. Students should expect to devote the same amount of time studying for the exam, as they would need to spend writing a graduate project. If you do so, exam time should find you ready and confident. Our MPA program has a history of excellence in exam results. Our expectations are high, but students rise to the challenge and feel great pride in their achievement. You will become part of that tradition.

NOTE ON WRITING EXAMINATION ESSAYS

Two hours are given for each exam essay. This gives you enough time for developing an organized and comprehensive essay. At the same time, it is usually best after establishing your main themes to focus on some rather specific areas. Your reader will want to see that you have the overall picture, but they will also expect you to show that you can focus on selected areas and analyze them. This analytic quality is meant to be an essential component of your exam essays.

Your essay should have ample references to the authors and readings that you have used in your preparation, showing that you recognize the contributions that these scholars have made to your subject.

While your essays should be solidly based on major concepts and should have appropriate references to authors and readings, it is important that you show that you are able to apply these concepts. Be sure to use appropriate examples to illustrate your major themes. These examples will often come from your own professional experience at work, but may also come from news stories or other sources.